Faringdon ‘grows’ on Pamela and Ray!
For Dr Pamela Stagg-Jones and her husband, Ray Jones, it was ‘love at first sight’ when they viewed the houses at Beechcroft’s Fern Hill Place but, having set their hearts on living in somewhere like Marlborough or Cirencester, they were reluctant to move to Faringdon! Now, just three months later, they have grown to love the town which offers everything they need as well as being a friendly place to live!
Pamela and Ray lived in Texas and Florida for over 20 years and moved to Penarth, near Cardiff before discovering Fern Hill Place.
Tucked away in a landscaped setting just off Coxwell Road, Fern Hill Place is located in one of Faringdon’s most sought-after residential areas and falls within the catchment area of the popular Faringdon Community College. Each of the 10 new homes at Fern Hill Place has been carefully designed, built and finished and features the high quality specification that has helped Beechcroft gain an enviable reputation over the last two decades.
“We were hoping to buy a new, easy-to-maintain home in Cirencester or perhaps in Marlborough, where our daughter lives. Faringdon wasn’t even on our list but friends, who were also looking to move, recommended we take a look at Fern Hill Place which they really liked,” comments Pamela. “I’d visited a Beechcroft development in Winchester some time before and because I liked the style of the new homes and the quality of build and finish, we decided to visit Fern Hill Place. From the start, my husband thought the Beechcroft development was perfect for us but I wasn’t too keen on Faringdon itself so we continued our search.”
Having failed to find anything that matched up to Fern Hill Place, the Joneses decided that Fern Hill Place could indeed be a good location. They agreed that the location, equidistant between three sets of grandchildren and close to Wrag Barn Golf Club in Highworth, where Ray is a keen player, was ideal – and bought one of the new homes.
“Beechcroft’s architect was certainly inspired when he designed the 10 new homes here. Each has a garage and some homes also have a workshop. Our flat in Penarth was large but didn’t have a garage. It’s also good to have a security gate,” adds Pamela. “One of the best things about living here, though, is the sense of community. We go out to dinner with our neighbours on occasion and we had a wonderful barbecue in a neighbour’s garden in the summer. It’s really nice that the community is mixed – three of the couples are active and retired like us and there are two young families; it’s lovely to have children around.”
Much to Pamela’s surprise, Faringdon has actually ‘grown’ on them! In fact, she says that every time they visit the town it becomes more appealing.
“I can honestly say that we can get everything we want in the town – whether it’s for us, for the grandchildren or even for dinner parties. We don’t have to go to Swindon for anything. The town’s supermarket has local produce, potatoes straight from the ground as well as all the usual stuff. There’s also a very good delicatessen.”
“The Faringdon Coffee Shop is a delight. The people who work there are wonderful; always smiling, always helpful. You’re able to choose your own blend of coffee – and it’s beautiful – and there are delicious home-made cakes and pastries. There’s a post office and a Really Useful Shop – that is just that!”
“We had the biggest surprise when we needed some furniture. We’d been to Reading, Oxford and Swindon and did far better in Faringdon. We went to a store called Majo in Faringdon. The young man there knows all about furniture and has some beautiful pieces in his store – which extends to three levels. He really went out of his way to help us and even came and fitted some items into our new home for us.”
Currently, the final new home is on sale at Fern Hill Place so anyone wanting to join this lovely community will need to move swiftly. This last remaining property is the former show house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a cloakroom arranged over three storeys.
For information on this attractive home, which comes complete with carpets, curtains, blinds and light fittings at just xxxx, please contact the Beechcroft sales team on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm on 01367 244105. Outside these hours, please contact selling agents, Greens, on 01235 763562. Information on all Beechcroft developments is available on www.beechcroft.co.uk.
- Ends -
Photograph: Dr Pamela Stagg-Jones
Media information: Sheila Frampton
Craven Group
01428 751755/07789 275868
sheila.frampton@craven-property.com
'Open Market Homebuy' scheme Government assistance is back for First Time Buyers If you can’t afford to buy a home, the ‘Open Market HomeBuy’ scheme can help you to get a loan alongside a regular mortgage. Find out if you are eligible and how it works.
Open Market HomeBuy - who can apply?
You need to be sure that you meet the eligibility criteria before you can buy a home with help from the Open Market HomeBuy scheme. The scheme is run in England by ‘HomeBuy agents’, who can help you through the application process. HomeBuy agents are appointed housing associations - non-profit organisations that manage housing for people having difficulty buying a home.
Open Market HomeBuy is open to households earning less than £60,000 a year who would otherwise be unable to buy a home.
You may be eligible if you are either a:
* first time buyer
* previous home owner who can't now afford to buy without help (perhaps because you have broken up with your partner)
* housing association or council tenant
* ‘key worker’ (a key public sector worker, like a nurse or teacher)
To find out more click here
At Fern Hill Place, Faringdon, the sales team has had a flurry of visitors from all over the Home Counties, looking for a new home in an excellent commuting location, as Sales and Marketing Director, Angela South explains:
“What we’ve been finding at Fern Hill Place is that people are now tired of renting and are ready to buy. We believe that many people who wouldn’t normally have rented have been persuaded to do so because of the economic climate and now they’re finding that the money they invested in the bank isn’t earning much interest, property prices are more affordable and, of course, it’s always preferable to own your own home.”
Fern Hill Place is the ideal location for anyone – singles, couples or families – looking for a new home in an excellent location as selling agent, Tim Green, of Green & Co in Wantage explains:
“This gated community of just ten four-bedroom private homes is tucked away just off Coxwell Road, which in addition to being one of Faringdon’s most sought-after residential areas, falls within the catchment area of Faringdon Community College, one of only two schools in the whole of Oxfordshire to be awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating by OFSTED.”
“The new homes, which are ready to move into now, have a high specification, private gardens, garages and parking. Unlike many new developments, Fern Hill Place is a select and contained development in a popular and established residential location within the town. With both the town centre and open countryside only a walk away too, these should all be key points for home buyers."
"In any market, location should be the highest priority and with so many new homes are being constructed on brown field sites with mixed use it is rare to find these smaller exclusive projects. This could well explain the reasons for the surge in interest that we are experiencing."
“Faringdon is also an excellent place to live because it provides easy road access to Oxford and Swindon, the A34 and M4 and, of course, there’s a mainline railway station at Oxford which provides a swift service to London Paddington,” adds Tim.
Anyone interested in living at Fern Hill Place, where prices currently range from £299,950 for one of the courtyard properties, will need to act swiftly. The sales office and show home is open each Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and can be contacted on 01367 244105. Out of office hours, please call selling agents, Green & Co, on 01235 763562.
Information on all Beechcroft developments is available on www.beechcroft.co.uk.
Photograph: Beechcroft’s Fern Hill Place development in Faringdon, Oxon
Media information: Sheila Frampton
Craven Property Services
Sheila.frampton@craven-property.com
07789 275868/01428 751755
Stamp Duty Land Tax Rates STAMP DUTY LAND TAX RATES
New threshholds following Budget 3 September 2008 which are valid until 2 September 2009.
Residential property - purchase price
Rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax
up to £175,000 (until 2 September 2009 inclusive) 0%
£175,001 - £250,000 1%
£250,001 - £500,000 3%
£500,001 or more 4%
Stamp Duty Land Tax when you buy property
New thresholds introduced from 3 September 2008 mean that if you buy property and the purchase price is £175,000 or less you don't pay any Stamp Duty Land Tax at all.
If it's more than £175,000, you pay between one and four per cent of the whole purchase price. The £175,000 threshold (up from £125,000) will remain in place up to and including 2 September 2009.
source: http://www.direct.gov.uk/
HIP Regulations update Minister for Housing ends the Transitional Arrangements for HIP Regulations Home information packs have proved themselves to be contraversial at best and considered ill-advised and rushed through by many. However the current government shows no sign of abandoning the scheme and with every alteration there is a chance that their effectiveness could improve.
On the 8 December 2008 the Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett, confirmed the ending of the current transitional arrangements for the HIP Regulations.
This means:
From the 6 April 2009 the following minimum documents must be available before First Day Marketing of a property can legally take place:
Index of the documents contained in the HIP
Energy Performance Certificate or Predicted Energy Assessment
Sale Statement
Land Registry Title documents and Plan
After the 6 April 2009 mean it will no longer be enough just to have ordered a HIP in order to begin marketing.
Where there is a delay in obtaining the EPC or PEA marketing can begin on Day 15 after it was requested.
A further requirement from the 6 April is that the HIP must contain a NEW document – the Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) within 28 days of First Day Marketing.
The PIQ contains questions for the vendor to answer from their own knowledge and experience of living in the property, for example: When was the property purchased? What Council Tax Band is the property in?
The changes to the scheme will affect those people considering the sale of their home in the Spring of 2009. Anyone going to the market after the 6th April will be delayed by having to comply with the new regulations. It would be advisable to take advice well in advance of the time that you wish to commence marketing to save any unnecessary/damaging delays. We will be able to provide you advise you on all aspects of your move.
Contact us now on post@greenand.co.uk
Lewis Gallagher has been announced as the overall winner of the Green & Co. Drawing Competition launched at the 2008 Didcot Street Fair. Lewis drew an impressive version of James Bond in his Aston Martin as seen here and was chosen by the judges from a very good quality entry. The entrants were not restricted to the James Bond theme but many of the pictures were fully in the theme of the Street fair. After a tough decision Lewis' picture was announced as the winner. The prize awarded to the winner is to attend a practice session for the Green & Co rally team and enjoy the passenger ride of a lifetime. Three runners up also received prizes for their efforts.
Part of the work that Green & Co undertake is providing new tenants and homeowners with useful information packs containing advice on energy conservation and recycling issues. This forms part of an expanding scheme within the company towards environmental responsibility. Partner Tim Green said 'this is really the start of a much bigger programme within the firm on a very important issue in the world today. We are very pleased to have been recognised with the nomination for this award.'
Office Manager Paul Jarvis launched a drawing competition for 7-17 year olds for the evening and headed the team handing out FREE entry forms. Goodie bags with gas balloons were handed out to all the passing children and mulled wine and soft refreshments provided for everyone. The entry forms for the Drawing Competition need to be back in the office in good time for the judging which will take place on Monday the 16th December.
The two lucky winners will win a ride in the Team Green Rally car sponsored by the firm.